All language subtitles for A Dangerous Profession (1949)

[Dramatic music plays]

[Whistle blows]

[Siren wailing]

Nick:
It's easy to get put in jail.

11 million times a year,

a policeman
is slipping on handcuffs

or loading a patrol wagon.

Thieves, murderers, forgers,

and perhaps your aunt tilly
or your next-door neighbor...

[Tires screech]

Drunken drivers and gamblers,
stock promoters,

and, if you're not careful,
even you.

But it's just as easy
to get out...

For a while, at least...

Because everyone's entitled
to his liberty

if he can guarantee
his appearance with a bond.

And there you have the reason
for a business...

One of the oldest businesses
of civilization.

Next door to the city hall or
the jail or the police station,

usually not more
than a block away...

The bail-bond offices.

Through these doors,
pass the clients,

innocent or guilty,

pouring out over $2,250,000,000
worth of business every year.

Some business.

Post a bond
and have your freedom.

A few hours or a few minutes

after the gates slam shut
behind you,

post a bond and walk out
into the sunshine.

Post a bond and keep away
from police questioning

that might break you down.

Post a bond and go home
to your girl, your wife,

or hop a plane and disappear.

Innocent or guilty,
you've got a friend,

powerful and dependable,

ready and waiting for you
24 hours a day...

Your bondsman.

He'll share your problem...
For a fee.

Typical to many bond offices

is the farley-Kane
in Los Angeles, California.

Joe farley was probably born
in a bond office.

You might have to leave
your mother

or your wife and children
for collateral,

but he'll figure out a way.

Vince Kane was my buddy on the
police force in Los Angeles

until he decided
to bail people out of jail

instead of putting them in.

Over this one counter
in the farley-Kane office

passed bonds in the amount
of $1,600,000

during the past year.

Some business.

I don't know why I bothered

to answer a riot call
in McKay's tavern.

Maybe I just like to watch
a good fight.

Sometimes they pay off
like a slot machine.

Woman:
At McKay's tavern on LA brea.

Investigate.

[Indistinct conversations]

Unless you've been a cop,

you'll never know
the satisfaction

of finding a man you've been
hunting for almost two years.

As they say, when Nick ferrone
goes after a guy,

he goes after a guy.

What's the hurry?

Looks like
we hit the jackpot.

Almost too much to expect.

Man:
What a night.

Man #2:
You got it. Bet.

Here we are.

This one is
income-tax-free, baby.

[Dice rattle]

Oh.

Are you Vince Kane?
Not now.

There's a Nick ferrone
on the phone.

Wait a minute.
This is a $300 roll.

You stay here for luck.
We'll talk to him together.

[Dice rattle]

Man #3: At 7.

The loser pay...
You're poison.

Where's the phone?

[Indistinct conversations]

Hello, Nick.

Oh, I'm not so sure,
but this is one

of the nicest interruptions
I can remember.

Sure, we're going.
What time is it?

Where are you?
We'll pick you up.

Where would a cop be?
I'm at the police station.

What do you mean, "we"?
You got somebody with you?

Yeah.

I'll have someone
with me.

About 5'5"...

115...

Black hair...

Last seen wearing
a black dress.

No trimming.
Badly wanted.

Are you a cop?

Was.

I'll see you
in about...
Hey, hey, hey,
what's going on here?!

There was a phone call
for him.

Well, okay, okay.
He's got it. Come on!

Wait a minute, Nick.
I can't hear you.

There's a lot of noise
going on here.

Come on, come on.
Take your time.

Oh, will you
let me hear?

What are you trying to do...
Start something?

You'd better tell me later.
We're going to the fights.

And we haven't
got a ticket for you.

Anyway, you don't like fights.
Or do you?

[Vehicle approaches]

It's about time.

Elaine storm,
lieutenant ferrone.

Army or Navy?
Police department.

I don't like
policemen.

Which one of us
is gonna slap her?

Nick doesn't like girls.

The only one he ever went for
poisoned him.

Pity he recovered.
I didn't.

Go down spring street,
will you, Vince?

Remember that 150-grand
bond hoist 2 years ago?

There's a witness named brackett
who skipped.

Vaguely.
What about it?

You can talk in front of her.
She's a good kid.

So they say.

Cop on the case was shot...
Benny kafka.

You remember Benny.

Yeah.

I picked this brackett up
tonight.

I want to stop
and take a look at his room...

The dorsey hotel.

We'll be late
for the fights.

It'll only take
a minute.

Where is
the dorsey hotel?

I haven't
the faintest idea.

Didn't I tell you?

Good kid.

I'll go up with you.

Why don't you stay out here
and neck?

Not with the top down.

Don't let anyone
give us a ticket.

It might be embarrassing
to Nick.

That'll be fine.
Thank you very much.

What do you expect to find
in here?

Oh, I don't know.

You never know what you're apt
to walk into.

You used to be a cop.
You ought to know that.

But I never wore a pair
of sneakers.

Why don't you go back down
to that society girl?

She's still there.

Hey.

This must be
some dame.

Maybe it's his wife.

No, he had a wife,

but I think she left him.

Look...

Black-lace underwear
and bourbon.

[Chuckles]
This guy knows how to live.

Most of this stuff
is packed.

Either they just got in
or were getting ready to blow.

[Drawers opening, closing]

Taste in perfume
stinks.

They always
have dames.

What do they get out of it...
The dames, I mean?

Thrill? Dough?

Or they just like
getting kicked around?

Got some nice clothes.

And the size looks like
a nice figure goes with them.

Say...
[Chuckles]

Why don't you give the dame
down in the car the brush

and wait for this one?

She might be feeling pretty low
when she gets back.

Okay.

That about does it.

What do you say, Vince?

You'll never find anything
under the bed.

Come on.

Come on, Vince!
I thought you were worried

about being late
for the fights!

Yeah.

[Typewriters clacking]

Hiya, Charlie.

Vince...
Talk to farley, will you?

I can't raise
that kind of dough.

Okay, Marley.

Mr. Kane, there's a lady waiting
in your office.

Joe: Hey, Vince!

Come on in.

Look who we got here...
Our old pal.

Hiya, judge.
Hello, Vince, my boy.

You know,
we were just talking.

Did I ever tell you about
the time they had mccleary down

in the long beach clink?

They wouldn't take the judge's
signature on the writ.

[Laughter]

So I took him down in person,
and the sheriff says,

"how do I know
he's a judge?"

[Laughter]

Oh, that reminds me...
I have your policy here.

I'd like you to look at it,
your honor.

I'll see you later.
I have a little business.

Hello, Lucy.

Hello, Vince.

Mr. Kane, I'm Roger lennert,
Mrs. brackett's attorney.

How are you?

It's about Mrs. brackett's
husband...

You don't know him,
do you?

No.

Not personally.

I see.

Well, uh, he was arrested
late yesterday afternoon.

I know.

Are you aware
of the circumstances, Mr. Kane?

I think so.

A year
and 11 months ago,

Mr. brackett cashed $150,000
worth of securities for two men.

Well, they turned out
to be stolen.

Of course,
he was left holding the bag,

and he skipped out.

He felt he couldn't possibly
establish his innocence

until he could find the men
he'd cashed them for.

How long have you been married,
Mrs. brackett?

Five years.

Happily?

Not necessarily.

Oh?
Sorry to hear that.

You're sure your husband
is innocent?

Yes.

And as a loving wife,
you'd like to have him out?

Uh, for some reason,

the bail has been set
extraordinarily high.

It's $25,000.

They really want to hold
your husband.

I'm not too familiar
with this kind of case,

but, uh, well,
I'm representing Mrs. brackett

because I was an old friend
of her father's.

And today is the day

that Mrs. brackett
needs an old friend.

How much collateral
can you raise?

Only about $4,000.

And you'd like me
to make up the difference

between
$4,000 and $25,000?

I believe that Claude
is innocent,

and the only way he can prove it
is to be free.

I admire
your loyalty.

But it all adds up that someone
has to put out $21,000.

I'm afraid
you need more

than an old friend,
Mrs. brackett.

Thank you very much
for your kindness

and your trouble.

I'm sure we'll manage.

Mr. Kane, I, uh...
I don't understand.

I-I was led to believe
that...

So was I, Mr. lennert.

If there's one thing
about ferrone,

when he says he's gonna
get a guy, he gets him.

Terror to the underworld
is ferrone.

Well, there he is.
You know him, Vince?

Vince: We're members
of the same lodge.

Do you want me
to get him up?

No.

Don't you want to talk
to him?

No.

What lodge, Vince?

The round Robin club.

Joyous brotherhood.

Are you drunk, Vince?

I wish I was.

What do you want?

Wild thoughts
come from nowhere, Gus.

Be careful of them.

[Chuckles]
I sure will.

I just wanted
to take a look at him.

Naturally, you did,

you being members
of the same lodge.

Naturally.

Lucy.

Yes?

It's me... Vince.

Please go away,
Vince.

Oh, Vince.

Why did you bother
to leave your card?

I don't like
unfinished stories,

like the one that started
on a Tuesday night

a year and 11 months ago...

When that dumb cop
waited for hours

for a girl
who didn't show.

I've always wanted
to tell you, Vince.

There was
so little time.

Tell me now,
but make it good...

Especially the part
about the husband.

Don't say it like that.
Why don't you give me a chance?

You know a better way
to say it?

I can only say it
the way I know it.

Claude and I
were separated.

We'd even arranged
about a divorce.

After that,
I was on a bus one night

coming home from ventura.
The bus broke down.

I walked
along the beach

with a man
I'd never known before.

We hitched a ride together,
and we talked.

What did we talk about,
Vince?

Not about Claude.

I couldn't.
It was too soon. Besides...

I'd never met anyone
like Vince Kane before.

Vince...

Can you understand
how a girl gets married?

Claude was the boy
who... who taught me to swim

and took me to dances.

He fell in love with me
and married me...

As simple as that.

That's supposed to solve
everything for a girl, isn't it?

It's been known to.
Yes.

It's supposed to
for me, too.

I told myself
I was in love with him.

Then one day...

I discovered that I hadn't
married a man at all...

But a boy who was terrified
when his father died

and left him
without a bank account.

Very touching.
Yes, it was.

A little more
than touching.

The night you waited

was the night that Claude
came back to me...

Terribly scared
and drunk.

He said he'd been framed.
The police were after him.

We had to get away
quickly.

There was no time
for any explanations.

What's the use
of it now?

How 'bout his cut
of 150 grand?

Did he explain that?

You're wrong
about that, Vince.

How did you live
the past two years?

He borrowed the money.

And you still think
he was innocent?

I'm sure he was.

But you loved me?

Yes, Vince.

And you'd have
married me?

You didn't ask me.

A detective's $340 a month
isn't much for a doll like you.

You better go, Vince.

I've heard it all
before...

The boy story.

I've heard it in two bedrooms
and cocktail bars

when they were crying
in their beers,

but not the way
you tell it.

Will you please go?

You said you had
$4,000.

Have Mr. lennert bring it over
to my office in the morning.

You know...

I'd give 5 million bucks
to believe you.

[Door opens, closes]

Yes, I know.
I know.

But it seems to us
that there ought to be a way

for you to make them
understand

that $25,000
was way out of line.

After all,
it's the boy's first offense.

He comes
from a good family.

Okay, okay.

Mr. d.A. Says no.

Your pal ferrone
asked for the high bond.

Now the d.A.'S
got to summon him.

What do you want me
to do?

I want the guy sprung.

Vince...

I don't know
what your interest in this is.

I'm not asking.

But we're still
partners.

I'm taking no risks.

If those people can't raise
$25,000, forget it.

Understand?
Forget it.

Mr. Kane, there's
an attorney in your
office named Dawson.

Thanks.

Mr. Kane, I'm Dawson.

Hiya.

I'm representing
Mrs. Claude brackett.

Have you heard anything
about the case?

Oh, we manage to know
what's going on.

This poor woman is in
a frightful situation.

Her husband, Claude,

a young man
of impeccable reputation...

What's the bail?
$25,000.

How much
can Mrs. brackett raise?

$12,000.

Cash?

And that's
scraping the barrel...

Everything she has
in the world...

A few bits of jewelry
her mother left her...

Everything.

I wish you could know
these two people, Mr. Kane.

This girl's love
and understanding...

Getting the bail down to half
might be quite a job.

We know that the usual premium
is 10%.

However,
where the effort involved

is considerably greater,

it occurred to us that 20%
might be more equitable.

[Intercom buzzes]
10% is legal, Mr. Dawson.

Yeah?

Send him in.

No offense meant.

Oh, uh...

It's all right.
Come on in.

Mr. lennert,
do you know Mr. Dawson?

No, I don't
think so.
No, I...

You should.

You two have a lot
in common.

Both attorneys.
[Chuckles]

And I'll hear
from you?

Sooner than you think.
Thank you, Mr. Kane.

Good day.
Good day.

Mrs. brackett's
jewelry, bonds,

savings, and cash,

practically
to the last cent.

Scraped the barrel.
Exactly.

$4,200.

Okay.

You, uh... you have the bail
reduced?

Nope.

Well, uh, Mr. Kane,

I-I'm afraid
I've misjudged you.

Don't be too sure.

Ah, wonderful.

People are always underrating
a good shower.

People are always underrating
a lot of things.

How 'bout a drink
of scotch?

Thanks.

I figured
you were the scotch type.

Goes with the brokerage
background.

I'm a bourbon man
myself.

When they close
that cell door on you,

you begin to wonder
what type you really are.

First time in?
Yeah.

I just called your wife.

She's on her way over.

Hey, thanks.

It's part
of the service.

Seems like
a nice girl.

Claude:
She's a swell kid.

You couldn't find anyone
more loyal and devoted.

That's nice to hear.

All through this,
she's been there 100%.

I'd knock myself off
for her.

Funny.

I never found anybody
I could feel that way about.

You knew her before,
didn't you, Mr. Kane?

We were on a bus
that wrecked itself out on 101.

We hiked and hitched our way
back to L.A.

We had laughs.

I don't remember that.

We were coming in
from ventura.

First I knew her,
her foot was in my ear.

About my bail...

What about it?

How'd she raise
the money?

She didn't...
Not all of it.

Then who did?

Is that why you asked me
if I had known her before?

Don't you think
I got a right to know

where the money
came from?

A man came to my office.

Swore me to secrecy.

Okay.

It was a friend
of your father's.

Oh.

Do you know a lawyer
named Dawson?

No. Never heard of him.
Why?

Thought he might be able
to help you.

[Doorbell buzzes]

Hello, Vince.

Hello, Lucy.

Where is he?

Right here.

I bathed and shaved him
for you.

Baby!

Oh, you don't know
how good it is to see you.

This guy's sensational.

Yes, I know.

Yours is Sherry,
if I remember correctly.

Why don't you sit down...
Make yourself comfortable?

This calls
for celebration.

It certainly does.

Let's all go out
somewhere.

It'll be all right,
won't it, Mr. Kane?

Why not?
No, we can't.

Oh, you don't want him to
sit at home and brood, do you?

Really, Vince,
we mustn't, though.
Oh, of course we can.

I'm so much in debt
to this guy,

we could hire
the whole Hollywood bowl.

I'm gonna finish
dressing.

It's nice.

Glad you like it.

Vince, please don't make us
go out tonight.

Why not?
[Doorbell buzzes]

Excuse me.

Greetings.

Hello. Am I late?
I should say not.

Mrs. brackett,
Elaine storm.

How do you do?

Mrs. brackett's husband
is a client.

Brackett?

Oh, I read about it.
He was in the...

Yes.

Terrible for you.

You know, I didn't imagine
you'd look like this.

Vince knows
such awful people.

Yes, doesn't he?

I guess I thought you'd have
a purple nose.

You're a darling.

You're very nice
yourself.

[Cork pops, ricochets]

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Hi, Vince.
How's my favorite bondsman?

Hello, Wally.
Don't drink too much.

Just one
for the road.

Okay. You know the office
is open 24 hours a day.

You like it here?

No. It's too plush.

You belong
with soft things.

Not necessarily.

How many people did you go to
yesterday for help?

A few.

Bondsmen?
Mm-hmm.

Why?

'Cause I didn't want to come
to you.

Did you go to a lawyer
named Dawson?

No.

Do you know him?

No.

I don't like this band.
Do you?

We can always
sit down.

[Music continues]

Brackett, it's a good policy
to stay in with your bondsman.

We don't like to get hurt
in the deal.

Sometimes a guy jumps his bail,
and we're held responsible.

You don't have to worry.
I'm not going anywhere.

Good night.

Just to take the worry
off my mind completely,

call me every day at my office
at 6:00.

Sure.

Good night.

Good night, Vince.

Thanks.

What are you planning on doing
about Mr. brackett?

[Doorbell buzzes]

Hello, Nick.

Hiya, Vince.

What brings you out
this late?

Oh, just in the neighborhood.
Thought I'd drop in.

Anything
I can get you?

No, thanks.
[Sniffs]

I still say
her taste in perfume stinks.

What are you getting at?

You sprung brackett.

Yeah, that's right.

What about it?

I nailed him.

Took me almost two years,

but I nailed him,
and you bailed him out.

That's my business.

You used to be in
another kind of business.

You know...

You were
a pretty good cop.

Now I'm a pretty good
bondsman.

I live better.

What did you mean
by that perfume crack?

I found out that some of
your own dough is on this bail.

Oh.

I see where someone at the
office is fired in the morning.

You've got a lot of firing
to do...

For instance,
the clerk at the dorsey hotel.

You spent a little time there
last night with that dame.

I have a long memory.

All of a sudden, I remember
why that perfume bothers me.

You used to smell
of it.

I'm brackett's bondsman,

and I'm responsible
for what he does.

You want to scrape around
in the dirt,

that's your business.

I never let it interfere
with us.

But this time,
it's different.

Benny kafka was shot.

We liked Benny.

This has nothing to do
with you, Nick.

If you're trying to pull
a fast one to get that dame,

I'm gonna go for you,
Vince.

I mean it.

If you're making it easy
for brackett to skip

so you can get her
for a few grand...

I'm gonna nail you.

I won't say it again.

Get out!

It's a tough rap for a bondsman
to help a client escape.

It comes under the heading
of a three-syllable word...

"Collusion."

[Door slams]

Joe:
Just leaving, Vince.

Anything on your mind?

Know anything
about a guy named Dawson?

Never heard of him till he came
in to see you yesterday. Why?

Just curious.

He brought in 12 g's.
Mrs. brackett raised 4.

I don't have to count
on my fingers

to know that leaves
9 big ones.

Who put that out?

We did.

We'd better
get this straight.

I told you if those people
couldn't raise the dough

to forget it.

If you're carrying a torch,
that's your business.

But don't try
and light it

with $9,000 worth
of the firm's oil.

Maybe I'm a gambler
at heart, Joe.

Well, then,
go find a crap table!

Lay off
that sentiment junk!

If we're gonna make
any donations,

we'll make them
through charity.

Then we'll be heroes.

You know, this guy brackett
is no professional.

He's liable to up
and take a powder on us,

and we'll be out
on a limb.

I don't run this business
in red ink.

Take it out of my cut.

You took it out
with the firm's dough,

and that's the way
it stands.

And for your own good,
this guy better not blow.

See ya.

I don't know.

Brackett...
Claude brackett?

I don't remember him.

I guess I wasn't with the firm
at that time.

Who was?

Was she here then?

Miss Wilson?
I think so.

[Paper cup thunks]

Hello, miss Wilson.

You remember Claude brackett,
don't you, miss Wilson?

Another detective?

No.

Who are you?
A friend of his wife's.

You can tell Mrs. brackett
that Claude took me to dinner

just twice while they were
having their trouble.

Ever double-date
with a guy named Dawson?

I don't know
who you're talking about.

But if Mrs. brackett

really wants to know something
about Claude,

she can ask
that cigarette girl.

You mean he gave you the
brush-off for a cigarette girl?

I'd sure like to see
such a girl.

You can take a look at her

and get yourself a package
of cigarettes at the same time

at McKay's tavern.

And give her
my very best regards.

[Cup plops]

What kind of a guy
is this brackett?

What kind are there?

He just happened to have
a better pedigree.

You liked him?

Don't get any ideas.
I don't carry torches.

He was a nice fellow.
He spent a lot of money and...

Did you see him
when they picked him up?

Yeah, I saw him.

But I have an allergy
about trouble.

It makes my fingernails
break off.

That's why we said
goodbye.

How did you know he was
in trouble the time before?

He was with a creep
I didn't like.

Would have expected brackett
to be found dead with him.

Or would you?

Who's that?
Who knows?

Type trying to make
an impression.

Beat in time to the music
so you could see a flashy ring.

I decided to get lost.

I have a nice,
legitimate racket.

I steal a few bucks
shortchanging happy Charlies,

but I don't go
for con men.

What did he look like?

Like I said.

Tell me about the ring.

That kind of guy's idea
of heavy jewelry...

Onyx and diamonds
set like a checkerboard.

Something, huh?

Hiya, Vince.

Hello, Mac.

I heard you were down
in the Springs.

Oh, well,

all the better saloon-keepers
spend some time down there.

You, uh, interested?

I like women
with money.

They buy me drinks.

[Chuckles]

Well, I'll buy you a drink,
and you don't have to love me.

No, thanks.

Oh, uh, Vince...

What was that
all about?

I was just asking about
an old boyfriend of hers...

Claude brackett.

Brackett?

Oh, yeah, yeah... the guy
that was picked up in here.

Bond snatch
or something.

That's right.
You bail him out?

Yeah, we did.

You did.
[Chuckles]

Farley didn't.

You're the one that's doing
all the worrying.

How much are you carrying,
Vince?

Up till now,
it's been a secret.

Didn't I read
in the paper

about his wife
being a pretty good looker?

For a guy that has to stay up
every night

where the light
isn't good,

you do a lot of reading,
Mac.

[Chuckles]
Don't worry, Vince.

I won't tell farley.

Thanks.

Is he in?

He's out of town.

How far out of town?

Legally, Mr. Kane,

anything beyond the city limits
is out of town.

How soon
do you expect him back?

I think you can find him at home
around dinnertime

if it's that important.

Thanks.

Got a light?

You known Dawson long?

I don't.

I hear
he's a good mouthpiece.

Yeah, well, some people
go through life like this...

Full of yakety-yak.

I'm Kane, bail bonds.

Come in and see us sometime.
We're always available.

You guys operate
like Fuller brush men.

After you.
Thanks.

Claude?

[Telephone ringing]

Yes?

Hello, Lucy.
How's Claude?

Would you like
to come over

and bathe
and shave him again

and sober him up?

Why, he... he's been drinking
since early this morning.

I put him to bed.

Do you want
to talk to him,

or will you take my word
for it?

Lucy...

Forget it.

[Knock on door]

Who is it?

Vince: Lucy,
I want to talk to you.

Just a minute.

What do you want?

Is he still asleep?
Yes.

Let's take a look
at the sleeping beauty.

Lucy: Vince...

Don't wake him up.

Let's go to dinner together,
just you and me.

I got a better idea.

Let's pack a couple of bags
and keep right on going.

Just go?

Why not?

What about
your bond business?

You said last night I wasn't
happy with what I'm doing,

and maybe I'm not.

Oh, Vince.

Can you pack a bag
without waking him up?

Wait for me in the lobby.
I'll try.

He is in there,
isn't he?

Is he, Lucy?

No.

Vince, I love you more
than anything else in the world.

What do you think I am that
you can cut your initials into

any time you want?

10 minutes after brackett left
this place with a suitcase,

I had men looking for him.

And of course
you'd go away with me.

That'd give him
time enough,

and then you'd run
and meet him.

Where?

Where?!
I don't know!

He only left a note.

Said he was getting out
while he could.

He pleaded for time.
I owed him that.

What else could I do,
Vince?

Nice little
blackmailing idea.

I can't grab him because I'm
supposed to be your boyfriend,

and we'd prove it
by running away together.

I meant every word
I said to you...

Everything
I've ever said,

except this one time I lied...
The only time.

Forget it, babe.

It's all burned out
of me.

[Door closes]

[Footsteps approach]

Just got your call
at the club.

I was right in the middle

of the best steak
I've had in years.

What's the score?

Brackett took a powder.
I know it.

You brought me down here
for that?

What about our 9 grand?

It's all in the business...
Win 9, lose 9.

Occupational hazard?

Yeah. Occupa...
Yeah, that's it, Vince.

I know guys
that would die laughing

over you losing
a half a buck.

Forget it.

And tonight $9,000
doesn't mean a thing to you?

We've had a good year.
Write it off the income tax.

Part of the reputation
of this office

is we never get beat
for a bond.

Since when
have we changed?

We haven't.

I figure you've got a personal
interest in this thing.

Kind of threw you
off balance.

So, forget it.

What if we do take the rap
for 9 g's?

I'm not squawkin'.

You're still my partner,
good or bad,

so that's the way
it is.

You got your feet wet, okay.
Forget it.

I'll take over.

I don't like it
when you're noble, Joe.

On you,
it doesn't fit.

What do you know?

If I went around telling people
everything I knew,

how long do you think we'd be
in the bond business?

I'm still
the senior partner.

80% of what I say goes.
And I say drop it.

What's the beef?

Farley's been throwing
his money around again.

How's brackett?

What do you want, Nick?

I want you to say
if you know where he is.

I'm brackett's bondsman.

I'm the only one
responsible for him.

When the time comes, I'll see
that he shows at the hearing.

You know where the dame is,
all right,

but you won't say
where brackett is.

I know where he is.

Fine.
Then you watch him for me.

We will.

Don't you want to see him,
Vince?

Why?

I think you'd better.

Let's leave it
the way it was, okay, Vince?

Take it easy.
It's better that way.

How did he get it?

Two .32 slugs
in the chest

and thrown from a car
up in the hills.

What time was it?

Read about it
in the papers, Vince.

If you'd forgotten your yen
for his dame

and left him in the can,

he'd be talking plenty now,
and he wouldn't be dead.

Now we have this,
such as it is.

You'll get
your bond dough back.

The dame
is without a husband,

which is what you probably
wanted in the first place.

I have an office
for business.

If it's anything important,
I'll discuss it with you there.

We'll discuss it
right here.

Very well, Mr. Kane.

I'll give you five minutes,
but I won't be intimidated.

How is it you represent people
who never heard of you?

So far, you're guilty
of trespassing

and assault and battery.

Sue me later
but talk now.

A man I'd never
put eyes on before

came to me
and made the deal.

There was to be no questions,
no answers.

He gave me the money
I gave you, plus my fee.

The next morning,
he called me at the office...

Got a report and hung up.

That's all I know.

Ever see him again?
No.

What did he call
himself?

Max, uh... Gibney.

What did he look like?

Oh, 5'10",
light hair, about 35.

Did he give you
any address?

The hotel wadsworth.

How 'bout my suit
for assault and battery?

Check with my lawyer.

You check him out?

Yes. But he didn't leave
any forwarding address.

And he looked like any one
of 10,000?

Wish we could
help you.

There was one thing.

Yeah?
Kind of funny.

When we went
to the elevator

and I stepped back
for him to go through first,

he sort of
moved around me, like,

so I had to go first.

Same thing when we got out
and we went into the room.

Funny.

Didn't want to let me
get behind him.

Thanks.

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Believe it or not,
I'd like to help.

I told you
I didn't love Claude.

You've answered that before,
Lucy.

I didn't love him...

Not after
the first year...

But I-i somehow feel to blame
for all these things.

Vince, this is horrible.

Would it help any if I told you
he was guilty as could be?

It's easy
to say that now.

Do you want to hear
the truth?

Or what you think
is the truth.

Based on what I know.

[Sighs]

Been many times
I've wondered.

But I made myself believe in him
because I had to.

I... now I...

I'd like to know,
one way or the other.

Do you know
what this means to me?

I think so.

It's possible that we're
responsible for his death.

If we'd only let him stay
in jail, maybe it wouldn't...

Oh, Lucy, we can't be
second-guessers.

What do you know?

Your boy was playing around
with the cigarette girl

and traveling with a con man
before the robbery.

I don't know.

We started out right.
Maybe I didn't do my part.

Oh, Lucy,
the kid was a weakling.

That doesn't
make any difference now.

He was my husband,
and he was murdered.

[Telephone ringing]

Have you told
the police?

No.

Why?

Is that what you
want me to do?

[Ringing continues]

Of course.

All right.

Man: Is anybody here
named Kane?

Yes.

Telephone.

Excuse me.

[Music continues]

Yes?

What do you want, Joe?

I've been right here.

What's the rush?

All right. All right.
I'll be right over.

Pardon me.

Can you do it again?

[Chuckles]

If I knew you better, I'd buy
you a lighter for Christmas.

I didn't get
your name.

Roy Collins.

Did you finally
get to see Dawson?

I lost interest in him.

[Gasps]
Oh, I'm sorry!

You're sorry?

Now, look... why don't you
keep these, you know,

and then we won't be getting
mixed up in each other's lives?

You have my card.
Send me the bill.

Forget it, will you?

I'm sorry, Lucy, but I have to
go up and see Joe.

Why don't you
come with me?

I don't want you alone
at that hotel.

After you.

[Engine turns over]

[Indistinct conversations]

Hello, Vince.

Hello, frances.

Mrs. brackett,
Mrs. farley.

Hello, Mrs. farley.
You poor thing.

I know just how I'd feel if
the same thing happened to Joe.

[Chuckles]
And it could, too.

[Laughter in distance]

Oh, those people always
popping in for drinks

and to bother Joe.

Let's go in here,
where we can be alone.

Joe's in there
with all those books, Vince.

Come sit over here,
and I'll get a cup of tea.

Hello, Vince.

Did you come out of that thing
all right?

Why?

Well, no offense.

Stop reading the news
before they print it, Mac.

Q-u-i-d...

N-u-n-c.

Hi, Vince.
Hiya, Joe.

"One who is curious to know
everything that's going on."

Ah, I had to look
that one up.

[Chuckles]
Well, I guess Marley was right.

He said I can only think good
in a small room.

[Chuckles]

Well, you ought to do fine
down at the office.

We generally do...
Except sometimes.

Go ahead.
Help yourself.

Oh, Vince...

A lot of people
have been talking to me.

You got
a lot of ears, Joe.

I know.

What was the rush
in getting me up here?

Just heard that brackett
was found a little dead.

I thought before you started
talking to people,

I'd like to find out
how you feel.

I feel fine.

Well, that's great.

We'll both
get our dough back,

and we forget everything,
right, Vince?

What makes it right?

Let's be clean-cut
about it.

Don't you think I know
about these things, Vince?

I wouldn't make book
on what you don't know, Joe.

You're still in love
with that dame.

Why don't you
send her away,

let her bake it out in the sun
someplace?

Sooner or later, the cops
will pick up those guys

or they won't,
and that'll be the end of it.

Then, if you still feel
the same way,

get the dame...
Start where you left off.

That's easy, isn't it?

Sounds good
the way you tell it.

Sure. What's the use
of breaking your hip?

Brackett was a crook.

Sooner or later, those crooks
get knocked off anyway.

Who cries about it?

That's a job
for the cops.

And as I see it,
you are not a cop.

You are in
the bond business.

What else
do you see, Joe?

You ought to know
by this time, Vince.

You can't be
a bail bondsman

and play on the team
opposite your clients.

If you do,
you're through as my partner.

Simple as that?
Yeah.

Simple as that.

On the other hand,
I like you.

I like you.
You... you're on the ball.

You're a hustler.

You can't tell.

I-I'd cut you in on a bigger
share of the business.

I don't know. Maybe that's
what you've been angling for.

How much of a cut?

Well, let's see.
You've got 20%.

Maybe we'll boost it
to 30%.

Sounds interesting, Joe.

I can't find anything wrong
in it for me.

I knew you'd see it
my way, Vince.

What's the matter
with the drink?

I thought
it might be hemlock.

I never keep it
in the house.

Where do you get it?

It's an old Greek
drink.

Maybe I'll send
for some.

Do that, Joe.

[Door closes]

[Parking brake engages]

Don't come up, Vince.

Will you be all right?

Yeah.
I'll be all right.

Are you going
to the police?

Well...
I'll have to work it out.

All the way home,
I've been thinking about it,

and I knew you didn't
intend to go, and I knew why.

Well, there are a lot
of angles to it.

I'll talk to you about it
in the morning.

There's nothing to talk about.
You've changed sides completely.

[Door slams,
footsteps depart]

Hiya, Fred.

Hiya.

Where would a guy go

that had a hot cup of coffee
spilled on him?

Huh.
He was plenty blanked up.

I know because I had to wait
for him while he changed.

Think you could remember
where you waited?

How could I forget?

[Brakes squeal]

Here's
where I left him.

You're having
a good night.

Shows you how good a guy can do
on one cup of coffee.

[Doorknob rattles]

[Lock clicks]

[Door opens in distance]

[Indistinct conversations]

Good evening, Mr. Kane.

Bring me a drink.
Tell Mac I want to see him.

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

You looking for me,
Vince?

Sit down.

I'll buy you a drink,
even if I don't love you.

No, thanks.

Nice racket
you have here.

I do all right.

Booze and chumps.

That's right.

And on the side,
acting as a frontman

for hoodlums and frontmen
in brokerage houses.

What do you mean?

You got to brackett,
set up the contact.

Collins, or gibney,
pulled the job.

Brackett cashed the bonds.

How sweet it is.

Too bad.
Boys thought he would talk.

Too bad
he was knocked off.

You know...

You ought to give up drinking
that stuff.

You want evidence? Fine.

An attorney named Dawson
and a hotel bellhop

described gibney
as a fellow

who doesn't like to have anybody
follow him out of a room.

So what?

So, that's a habit
of our friend Collins.

Who's Collins?

I don't want to
bore you, Mac,

but Collins and gibney
are the same guy.

Great friend of brackett's
before the robbery.

He was in the habit of flashing
a diamond-and-onyx ring

in bad taste.

What do you think, Mac?

Okay, Vince.

Have fun.

There's a lot more,
but I'll hold that in reserve.

Personally, I wouldn't drink
any more of that stuff

if I was you.

Stop worrying
about my welfare.

What's your angle?

It's a shakedown.

50 grand.

50,000 reasons
for forgetting

that I was once
the pride of the police force.

You'll have to talk that over
with some other parties first.

For 50 grand, I'd make a speech
in Macy's window.

You never
understood it, Jerry,

but honesty
is the best policy.

You picked a fine time
to get drunk, Kane.

Don't let it fool you.

Look at us...

Two crooks
with everything we want.

We're an ad for crime,
Jerry.

You know that...

Even though I just said
it doesn't pay.

I don't mind the shakedown
as much as I do the yak.

What's the matter...

Aren't they home,
or won't they answer?

[Door slams]

What are you two
up to?

Your partner here is getting
a little bit ambitious, Joe.

Maybe you'd better
talk to him...

About $50,000 worth.

This wouldn't be
a shakedown, would it?

You're not gonna
talk me out of it, Joe.

You know
what you are, Kane.

You're not shaking down
any of your clients.

What have you got
in this, Joe?

What have I...
What have I got in this?!

25 years of working
24 hours a day,

hustling bonds
for split commissions.

25 years of entertaining
thieves and hoodlums and judges,

keeping my mouth shut,

fighting my way up
from the gutter!

For every gray hair
I got on my head,

there's a bond
in somebody's files.

What do I got in it?!

Newsboy to president.

You phony gumshoe.

Everything you've got,
I gave you.

You came to me
in a shiny blue suit

and a half a buck
in your kick...

A dumb flatfoot
with a pretty baby head.

The only trouble is you try
to crowd so much into that head,

you're gonna get it
blown off.

You don't want to make
the price go up, do you, Joe?

I told you tonight our job
is bail bonds.

Guilty or innocent
is none of our business.

We're the only ones
that crooks can trust.

I don't want a lovesick bunny
in my office I can't trust.

If Mac's in trouble,
that's his business.

He's our client.
We write the bond.

Now I'll tell you
where I stand.

Where you stand?

A dame
with the pretty face,

a broken-down husband

with a yen
for some fast money,

and all my sweat
going up in smoke.

Not on your life,
you two-time copper.

I'm washing you out
of the bond business.

Your cut is about 25 g's.

You'll get it
in the morning.

Stay away
from that desk, Jerry.

I want to be a rich man
or a hero.

I don't care which.

I'd like to be rich, and I know
a girl who likes heroes.

So, make up your minds.

I'll give you till 10:30 in
the morning at my apartment...

The both of you.

And from you, cash...
No checks.

Now,
if you boys don't mind,

will you walk out
in front of me?

[Indistinct conversations]

[Mid-tempo jazz music playing]

Hi.

Hello, Nick.

What's the matter
with farley?

Hello, Nick.

What time you got?
I think my watch stopped.

No, I guess not.

Can I buy you a drink,
lieutenant?

No, thanks.

Glad you showed up.
We were just talking about you.

Good or bad?

We were saying it's nice to know
an honest man.

Anything new
on the brackett case?

You tell me.

What's been going on?

I just sold out
of the bail-bond business.

What's McKay
doing in on it?

He was the referee.

What happened... the guy
with the ball fall on him?

I'd like to see you
in the morning, Nick...

Say, around 11:00.

Sure.

Take care of Mac.

He's a swell guy.

Who takes care of you?

I do.

[Music continues]

[Dialing]

[Switchboard buzzes]

Dorsey hotel.

Mrs. brackett?

She's checked out.

I don't know.

Late last night, I guess,
before I came on.

Thanks.

Did you pick up Lucy?

No, but I think I could.
Why?

Why don't you get it through
that thick head of yours

that you're wrong
about dames?

I'll answer that one
when we get there.

About brackett?

Yeah. About brackett.

[Drawer slams]

I'm gonna level
with you, Nick.

That's doggone nice
of you, Vince.

I know who got him.

How'd you find out?

By deduction,
you might say.

You've got a walloping
good case there, vin.

I'm being paid off.

Who by?

Jerry McKay.

About that ruckus last night...
Was, uh, farley in it?

No.

Joe just feels
for his clients.

Who else?

A gent named Roy Collins and...
Or Max gibney.

While you're putting the finger
on them,

find out who killed
Benny kafka.

[Drawer slams]

I might do that, too.

In just 45 minutes,
I'll be up in my apartment.

Farley pays me $25,000
for my end of the business.

McKay gives me $50,000
as a payoff.

And I'm supposed to grab my hat
and walk away.

Then I pick you up
for extortion.

Maybe I figured I'd keep
the dough for a while.

Maybe I didn't.
What's that to you?

What have you got?
What kind of proof?

There's a joke.

I got enough for me
but not enough for you.

But they don't know
how much I haven't got.

You lock him up now,

farley would have him out
before you'd get the gate shut.

Now go into your finish.

Okay, pighead.

What did you expect me
to believe?

What kind of a game you been
playing for the past year or so?

If I can't make a pinch,

what kind of a sucker move
are you trying to talk me into?

Find Lucy for me, Nick.

I don't want her
in any trouble.

What do you want, Vince?

Nothing much more
than that.

Now that you know
what I'm doing,

you know I can handle it.

Stay away yourself
and keep your mice out.

How long?
Couple of hours.

No gunplay, Vince.

A citizen can make an arrest,
can't he?

No gunplay.

I won't start it.
Okay.

Don't forget it.

[Door closes]

Open the door,
Mrs. brackett.

Come on.
Let's not play games.

It's lieutenant ferrone.

Thought I told you
not to change your address

without letting us know.

I'm sorry.
I meant to call.

Didn't you think I'd have a man
following you?

I wasn't trying
to run away.

Except from Kane.

Why do you say that?

You're running away
from something, aren't you?

Why do you say,
"from Kane"?

Look, the point is,
you do as you're told.

And when I leave here,
you'll lock the door

and you'll keep it locked
until I come back here

and tell you
to unlock it.

Understand?
Yes.

Have your food sent in
or crochet a rug.

Don't leave this room.

I want to keep
one of you out of trouble.

You've seen Vince?
You've talked to him?

Is he all right?
He's all right,
believe me.

Be a good girl.

Lock the door.

[Telephone rings]

Farley-Kane bail bonds.

Mr. Kane isn't in.

No, I haven't heard from him,
and I don't know where he is.

No, I don't. Sorry.

[Vacuum cleaner whirring,
doorbell buzzes]

[Whirring stops]

Is Mr. Kane in?
No, ma'am.

I'd like
to use the phone, please.

I guess
it's all right.

It's on the table.

[Door closes]

[Whirring resumes]

Hello.
Has Mr. Kane come in yet?

No, thank you.

[Horn honks]

I'm sorry,
but I have to leave now.

I've got other apartments
to do.

Yes, of course.

I'll wait here.
I have to see Mr. Kane.

Well, I don't know.

I'm sure
it'll be all right.

Well...

[Door opens, closes]

Vince:
Yeah, that's right.

You're not
talking me out of it.

[Door closes]

Here's your $25,000.
Count it if you want to.

Thanks.

You don't think you're gonna
get away with this, do you?

I can try.

Here's a little agreement
to sign

for your end
of the business.

Not yet.

You got your dough,
didn't you?

I want something else.
Come on, Vince.

Sign this... will you?
And I'll get going.

I don't want to get mixed up
in this.

You're not going
anyplace.

Having him as a partner
got me mixed up in this.

So, you might as well be a part
of whatever happens.

Now... What else you got
on your mind?

I want Collins.

Collins?

Or you.
It's dealer's choice.

I prefer Collins.

He's the guy
that knocked off brackett

and a cop
named Benny kafka.

Isn't that right, Mac?

You dirty,
double-crossing...

Lay off, will you?!

Think it over.
You got the deciding vote.

I got nothing on you

that bumping me off
wouldn't take care of.

Nick would miss me
around 11:00.

I reminded him
this morning.

I'm gonna have a drink.

You want Collins
and 50 g's?

You're crazy.

You're asking
for too much.

Maybe I am.

I'll make a deal
with you.

Get Collins up here,
and you can have your 50 back.

I don't know, Vince.

I don't want
any part of this.

I think
you're out of your head.

McKay says you're in,
farley.

Maybe you are.

I still think
you're out of your head.

We'll see.

There's one thing
that bothers me, Mac.

Did brackett
get his share of the dough?

Yeah.
Every nickel of it.

Collins never
double-crossed anybody.

You mean
he had a virtue?

Well, do I get him?

I'll get him up here
for you.

But after that,
you're on your own.

I want no part of Collins
with his finger near a trigger.

Wait a minute.

Don't bring him up here.

Tell him
I found out too much

and you're taking me for a ride
up in the hills.

That's where he comes in.

Have him meet us.

Farley goes along,
or I don't play.

[Dialing]

Hello, Max.
It's Jerry.

Listen, I need your help.

[Speaking indistinctly]

[Door closes]

What are they driving?

Find out,
but don't let them see you.

And meet me down in front
in five minutes.

[Engine turns over]

[Tires screech]

They went down that street
in a light gray sedan.

I think it was a Cadillac.
You'd better stay here.

No, let me go.
I know the car.

Right.
Alert Hollywood cars.

Light gray sedan,
possibly Cadillac.

Four men.

Vicinity Melrose and vine.
Follow and report back.

Car 42 signing off.
K.Q.B.B.

Oh,
Vince said something

about they're taking him
up into the hills.

Cut up to Franklin.

Here. Keep me covered.

Hello, farley.

Hi, wise guy.

This is a pleasure.

Think you're pretty smart,
don't you, Kane?

Smarter
than you are, Max.

A cop
that got reformed.

[Chuckles]

What cop
ever reformed?

I never thought I'd get a chance
to knock off another one.

You'll never play detective
again, Kane,

after I give you
the treatment... never.

Just like
Benny kafka.

Turn on Bronson, farley,
and go up in the canyon.

[Engine revs]

Woman:
Calling car 42. Car 4-2.

Gray Cadillac sedan
reported

turning north on Bronson
from Franklin.

Car 1-2-0 following.

Don't worry about him.

He used to take worse chances
than this for $340 a month.

[Chuckles]

Cut the laughing.

You don't know
how funny it is.

You got yourself
built up fine.

But I got sad news
for you.

I don't want
no news.

I don't want nothing
from you.

I just want to
knock you off.

If anybody's gonna be
knocked off, Max, it's you.

That's part of my deal
with McKay.

What's he
beating his gums about?

What's he saying?

Don't let him
work on you, Max.

You got the gun.
Shut me up.

Shut your face, Kane.

You see? He can't.

You're the fall guy
in this, Max.

I got him nailed.

If anything happens to me,
he'll be in the can in an hour.

Stop the car, farley.

I'll show you
what can happen to you.

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Sirens wailing]

Here he is.
Who?

Collins.

He killed brackett
and Benny.

And he nearly got me.

Here.
You better take his gun.

Come on, Vince.
I'll take you both home.

Looks like the police department
gets a good cop back.

You don't get
this cop back.

He just bought
30% of the bond business.

Hey,
fix him up, Harry.

He got nicked
in the arm there.

Here, let me.
I'll... I'll take that.

Serves me right
for trying to be honest.

So I wind up
with a hole in my arm.

50 g's in there
belongs to McKay.

Keep it on tap.

He'll need it
when we bail him out.

Aah.

Look at that.

Now she'll marry him,

and then she'll probably
leave him.

Serves him right
for being a bondsman.

Ow!